Fragment from an early copy of the Gospel of Matthew written on papyrus (ca. The Christian scriptures, known as The Bible, are divided into two major sections: the Old Testament, which pre-dates Christianity and is comprised of the Jewish scriptures, and the New Testament, written early in the Christian era. Gospel of Bartholomew - Chapters 1 to 5.69 i. The descent into Hell: the number of souls saved and lost. The Virgin's account of the Annunciation. The apostles see the bottomless pit. As an apostle, Bartholomew (Nathanael) witnessed the risen Savior at the Sea of Tiberias, (John 21:2) and was present at the His ascension (Acts 1:1–11). Christian tradition says that that Bartholomew preached the gospel in Persia and India. At the end, his faithful ministry to the Lord ended with martyrdom. In His service, BibleAsk Team. Jesus told the story of a man whose house collapsed because he built it on this. And whose favorite Prayer was this and what is the name of the prayer, The man who was given only on talent was criticized because he did this with it., MJ's favorite passage, which could be our Cornerstone Slogan. 25 The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture: The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament (Oxford: OUP, 1993). 8), “Is What We Have Now What They Wrote Then?” in Reinventing Jesus is here duplicated: “There are two places in the New Testament where conjecture has perhaps.
Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte derAltchristlichen Literatur 38.4 (1912)
THE 'DECRETUM GELASIANUM DE LIBRIS RECIPIENDISET NON RECIPIENDIS'
(English translation - RP,part V checked against Hennecke-Schneemelcher I p.38-40.)
Ernst von Dobschütz
HERE BEGINS THE COUNCIL OF ROME UNDER POPE DAMASUS 'ON EXPLAININGTHE FAITH'
I. It was said:
1. Firstly the seven-fold Spirit which remains in Christshould be discussed:
the spirit of wisdom: 'Christ the power and wisdom of God'.
the spirit of understanding: 'I will give you understanding, and I will instructyou in the way you will go'.
the spirit of counsel: 'And his name is called the messenger of greatcounsel'.
the spirit of virtues: as above, 'The power of God and the wisdom of God'.
the spirit of knowledge: 'Because of the eminence of the knowledge of theapostle of Christ Jesus'.
the spirit of truth: 'I am the way the life and the truth'.
the spirit of the fear of God: 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning ofwisdom'.
2. However the dispensation of Christ has a name of manyforms:
God, who is spirit;
the word, who is God;
the Son, who is only-begotten of the Father;
the man, who was born of the virgin;
the priest, who offered himself as a sacrifice;
the shepherd, who is the guard;
the worm, who rose from the dead;
the mountain, which is strong;
the way, which is straight;
the harbour, which one may pass through into life;
the lamb, which was slain;
the stone, which is the cornerstone;
the master, who is the bringer of life;
the sun, which is the illuminator;
the true, which is of the Father;
the life, which is the creator;
the bread, which is dear;
the Samaritan, who is the guard and the merciful;
the Christ, who is the anointed one;
Jesus, who is the saviour;
God, who is from God;
the messenger, who was sent;
the bridegroom, who is the mediator;
the vine, by whose own blood we are redeemed;
the lion, who is king;
the rock, which is the foundation;
the flower, which is chosen;
the prophet, who revealed the future.
3. For the Holy Spirit is not of the Father only or of the Son only, butof the Father and the Son; for it is written: 'He whodelights in the world, the Spirit of the Father is not in him'; again itis written; 'However anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ, doesnot belong to him'. So the Holy Spirit is understood to be called of theFather and the Son, [and] of whom the Son himself in the gospel says thatthe Holy Spirit 'proceeds from the Father' and 'he will receive from me and hewill make known to you'.
II. Likewise it was said:
Now indeed the issue of the divine scriptures must be discussed, which theuniversal Catholic church receives or which it is required to avoid.
1. THIS IS THE ORDER OF THE OLDTESTAMENT:| Genesis | one book |
| Exodus | one book |
| Leviticus | one book |
| Numbers | one book |
| Deuteronomy | one book |
| Joshua | one book |
| Judges | one book |
| Ruth | one book |
| Kings | four books |
| Chronicles | two books |
| 150 Psalms | one book |
| Three books of Solomon | |
proverbs | one book |
ecclesiastes | one book |
song of songs | one book |
| The same of Wisdom | one book |
ecclesiasticus | one book |
| Isaiah | one book |
| Jeremiah | one book |
| with Cinoth i.e. his lamentations | |
| Ezechiel | one book |
| Daniel | one book |
| Hosea | one book |
| Amos | one book |
| Micah | one book |
| Joel | one book |
| Obadiah | one book |
| Jonah | one book |
| Nahum | one book |
| Habbakuk | one book |
| Zephaniah | one book |
| Haggai | one book |
| Zechariah | one book |
| Malachi | one book |
| Job | one book |
| Tobit | one book |
| Esdras | two books |
| Ester | one book |
| Judith | one book |
| Maccabees | two books |
| Four books of the Gospels | |
according to Mathew | one book |
according to Mark | one book |
according to Luke | one book |
according to John | one book |
| Likewise the acts of the apostles | one book |
| The letters of the apostle Paul in number fourteen | |
to the Romans | one letter |
to the Corinthians | two letters |
to the Ephesians | one letter |
to the Thesalonians | two letters |
to the Galatians | one letter |
to the Philippians | one letter |
to the Colossians | one letter |
to Timothy | two letters |
to Titus | one letter |
to the Philemon | one letter |
to the Hebrews | one letter |
| Likewise the apocalypse of John | one book |
| Likewise the canonical [catholic] letters in number seven | |
| of the apostle Peter | two letters |
| of the apostle James | one letter |
| of the apostle John | one letter |
| of the other John the elder | two letters |
| of the apostle Judas the Zealot | one letter |
HERE ENDS THE CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
III. Likewise it was said:
The manuscripts of the shorter recension beginat this point, with the following heading: Anything to stop the paindialectical behavioral training.
HERE BEGINS THE DECRETAL 'ON BOOKS TO BE RECEIVED AND NOT TO BERECEIVED' WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY POPE GELASIUS AND SEVENTY MOST ERUDITE BISHOPSAT THE APOSTOLIC SEAT IN THE CITY OF ROME
Both versions then continue as follows:
1. After all these [writings of] the prophetsand the evangelical and apostolic scriptures which we discussed above, onwhich the catholic church is founded by the grace of God, we also have thoughtnecessary to say what, although the universal catholic church diffused throughoutthe world is the single bride of Christ, however the holy Roman church is givenfirst place by the rest of the churches without [the need for] a synodicaldecision, but from the voice of the Lord our saviour in the gospel obtainedprimacy: 'Youare Peter,' he said, 'and upon this rock I shall build my church and the gatesof hell shall not prevail against it; and to you I give the keys of the kingdomof heaven, and whatever you shall bind upon Earth shall be bound also inheaven and whatever you release upon Earth shall also be released in heaven'.
2. In addition there is also the presence of the blessedapostle Paul, 'the chosen vessel', who not in opposition, as the heresies jabber,but on the same date and the same day was crowned in glorious death with Peterin the city of Rome suffering under Nero Caesar; and equally they made theabove-mentioned holy Roman church special in Christ the Lord and gave preferencein their presence and veneration-worthy triumph before all other cities in thewhole world.
3. Therefore first is the seat at the Roman church of theapostle Peter 'having no spot or wrinkle or any other [defect]'.
However thesecond place was given in the name of blessed Peter to Mark his disciple andgospel-writer at Alexandria, and who himself wrote down the word of truth directedby Peter the apostle in Egypt and gloriously consummated [his life] inmartyrdom.
Indeed the third place is held at Antioch of the most blessed andhonourable apostle Peter, who lived there before he came toRoma and where first the name of the new race of the Christians washeard.
IV. And although 'no other foundation can be established exceptthat which has been established, Christ Jesus', however for edification likewisethe holy Roman church after the books of the Old and New Testaments which we have enumerated above according to the canon also does not prohibitthe reception of these writings:
1. the holy synod of Nicaea of 318 fathers chaired by theEmperor Constantine the Great,
at which the heretic Arius was condemned; the holy synod of Constantinople chaired by Theodosius the senior Augustus, at which the heretic Macedonius escaped his deserved condemnation;
the holy synod of Ephesus, at which Nestorius was condemned with the consentof the blessed pope Caelestinus chaired by Cyril of Alexandria in themagistrate's seat and by Arcadius the bishopsent from Italy;
Special collections research center. the holy synod of Chalcedon chaired by Marcian Augustus and by AnatoliusBishop of Constantinople, at which the Nestorian et Eutychian heresies togetherwith Dioscorus and his sympathisers were condemned.
but also if there are councils hitherto held by the holy fathers of lesser authority than those four, we have decreed [that] they must be both kept and received. Here added below is on the works of the holy fathers, which are received in the catholic church.
Likewise the works of blessed Caecilius Cyprian the martyr and Bishop ofCarthage;
likewise the works of blessed Gregory Nanzanensis the bishop;
likewise the works of blessed Basil Bishop of Cappadocia;
likewise the works of blessed John Bishop of Constantinople;
likewise the works of blessed Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria;
likewise the works of blessed Cyril Bishop of Alexandria;
likewise the works of blessed Bishop Hilary of Poitiers;
likewise the works of blessed Ambrosius Bishop of Milan;
likewise the works of blessed Augustine Bishop of Hippo;
likewise the works of blessed Jerome the priest;
likewise the works of blessed Prosper a most religious man;
3. likewise the letter of blessed pope Leo sent to FlavianBishop of Constantinople, of which text however if any portion is disputedand it is not that anciently received by all, let it be anathema;
likewise the works and every treatise of all the orthodox fathers, whodeviated in nothing from the common [teaching] of the holy Roman church, neitherseparated from its faith or worship but remained in communion by the grace ofGod to the last day of their life, we decree are to be read;
likewise thedecretal/official letters, which blessed popes gave for the consideration ofvarious fathers at various times from the city of Rome, are to be upheldreverently;
4. likewise the deeds of the holy martyrs, who areglorious from the manifold tortures on the rack and their wonderful triumphs ofsteadfastness. Who of the catholics doubts that most of them would be enduringstill in agonies with their full strength but would bear it by the grace of Godand the help of everyone? but according to old custom by the greatest cautionthey are not read in the holy Roman church, because the names of those who wroteare not properly known and separate from unbelievers and idiots or [theaccounts] are thought less attached to the order of events than they should havebeen; for instance the [accounts of] Cyricus and Julitta, like Georgiusand the sufferings of others like these which appear to have been composed byheretics. On account of this, as it was said, so that no pretext forcasual mockery can arise, they are not read in the holy Roman church. However wevenerate together with the aforesaid church all the martyrs and their glorioussufferings, which are well known to God and men, with every devotion;
likewise the lives of the fathers Paul,Antony and Hilarion which with all the hermits described by that blessed man Jerome we receive with honour;
likewisethe acts of blessed Silvester bishop of the apostolic seat, although the name of him who wrote [them] is unknown, [but] we know to be read by manycatholics however in the city of Rome and because of the ancient use of themultitude this is imitated by the church;
likewise the writings on the finding of the cross and certain other novelwritings on the finding of the head of the blessed John the Baptist are romancesand some of them are read by catholics; but when these come into the hand ofcatholics, the saying of Paul the blessed apostle should be <considered>first: 'prove all things, hold fast to what is good'.
likewise Rufinus, a most religious man, work many books of ecclesiasticalworks, also some interpreting the scriptures; but since the venerable Jeromenoted that he took arbitary liberties in some of them, we think those[acceptable] which we know the aforesaid blessed Jerome thought [acceptable];and not only those of Rufinus, but also [those] of anyone whom that man oftenremembered for his zeal for God and for the religion of faith criticised.
likewise some works of Origen, which the blessed man Jerome does not reject,we receive to be read, but we say that the rest with their author must berefused.
likewise the chronicle of Eusebius of Caesarea and the books of his churchhistory, however much he fell flat in the first book of his narration and[although he also] afterwards wrote one book in praise and to excuse Origen theschismatic, however on account of his narration of remarkable things, which areuseful for instruction, we do not say to anyone that it must be refused.
likewisewe praise Orosius a most erudite man, who wrote a very necessary history for usagainst the calumnies of the pagans and and with marvellous brevity.
likewisethe paschal work of that venerable man Sedulius, which was written in heroicverses [hexameters], we give preference to with manifest praise. Wootons whirled history.
likewise the laborious work ofIuvencus we nevertheless do not spurn but are amazed by.
V. The remaining writings which have been compiled orbeen recognised by heretics or schismatics the Catholic and Apostolic RomanChurch does not in any way receive; of these we have thought it right to citebelow a few which have been handed down and which are to be avoided by catholics:
LIKEWISEA LIST OF APOCRYPHAL BOOKS
firstly we confess that the synod of Sirmium calledtogether by Constantius Caesar the son of Constantine through the PrefectTaurus is damned then and now and for ever.
| the Itinerary in the name of Peter the apostle, which is called the nine books of the holy Clement | apocryphal |
| the Acts in the name of the apostle Andrew | apocryphal |
| the Acts in the name of the apostle Thomas | apocryphal |
| the Acts in the name of the apostle Peter | apocryphal |
| the Acts in the name of the apostle Philip | apocryphal |
| the Gospel in the name of Mathias | apocryphal |
| the Gospel in the name of Barnabas | apocryphum |
| the Gospel in the name of James the younger | apocryphum |
| the Gospel in the name of the apostle Peter | apocryphum |
| the Gospel in the name of Thomas which the Manichaeans use | apocryphum |
| the Gospels in the name of Bartholomew | apocrypha |
| the Gospels in the name of Andrew | apocrypha |
| the Gospels which Lucianus forged | apocrypha |
| the Gospels which Hesychius forged | apocrypha |
| the book on the infancy of the saviour | apocryphus |
| the book of the nativity of the saviour and of Mary or the midwife | apocryphus |
| the book which is called by the name of the Shepherd | apocryphus |
| all the books which Leucius the disciple of the devil made | apocryphi |
| the book which is called the Foundation | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Treasure | apocryphus |
| the book of the daughters of Adam Leptogeneseos | apocryphus |
| the cento on Christ put together in Virgilian verses | apocryphum |
| the book which is called the Acts of Thecla and Paul | apocryphus |
| the book which is called Nepos's | apocryphus |
| the books of Proverbs written by heretics and prefixed with the name of holy Sixtus | apocryphus |
| the Revelation which is called Paul's | apocrypha |
| the Revelation which is called Thomas's | apocrypha |
| the Revelation which is called Stephen's | apocrypha |
| the book which is called the Assumption of holy Mary | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Repentance of Adam | apocryphus |
| the book about Og the giant of whom the heretics assert that after the deluge he fought with the dragon | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Testament of Job | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Repentance of Origen | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Repentance of holy Cyprian | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Repentance of Jamne and Mambre | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the Lots of the apostles | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the grave-plate (?) of the apostles | apocryphus |
| the book which is called the canons of the apostles | apocryphus |
| the book Physiologus written by heretics and prefixed with the name of blessed Ambrose | apocryphus |
| the History of Eusebius Pamphilii | apocrypha |
| the works of Tertullian | apocrypha |
| the works of Lactantius also known as Firmianus | apocrypha |
| the works of Africanus | apocrypha |
| the works of Postumianus and Gallus | apocrypha |
| the works of Montanus, Priscilla and Maximilla | apocrypha |
| the works of Faustus the Manichaean | apocrypha |
| the works of Commodian | apocrypha |
| the works of the other Clement, of Alexandria | apocrypha |
| the works of Thascius Cyprianus | apocrypha |
| the works of Arnobius | apocrypha |
| the works of Tichonius | apocrypha |
| the works of Cassian the Gallic priest | apocrypha |
| the works of Victorinus of Pettau | apocrypha |
| the works of Faustus of Riez in Gaul | apocrypha |
| the works of Frumentius Caecus | apocrypha |
| the cento on Christ stitched together from verses of Virgil | apocryphum |
| the Letter from Jesus to Abgar | apocrypha |
| the Letter of Abgar to Jesus | apocrypha |
| the Passion of Cyricus and Julitta | apocrypha |
| the Passion of Georgius | apocrypha |
| the writing which is called the Interdiction of Solomon | apocrypha |
| all amulets which are compiled not in the name of the angels as they pretend but are written in the names of great demons | apocrypha |
These and those similar ones, which Simon Magus, Nicolaus, Cerinthus, Marcion,Basilides, Ebion, Paul of Samosata, Photinus and Bonosus, whosuffered from similar error, also Montanus with his obscene followers,Apollinaris, Valentinus the Manichaean, Faustus the African, Sabellius,Arius, Macedonius, Eunomius, Novatus, Sabbatius, Calistus, Donatus, Eustasius, Jovianus, Pelagius,Julian of Eclanum, Caelestius, Maximian, Priscillian fromSpain, Nestorius of Constantinople, Maximus the Cynic, Lampetius, Dioscorus,Eutyches, Peter and the other Peter, ofwhom one disgraced Alexandria and the other Antioch, Acacius of Constantinople with hisassociates, and what also all disciples ofheresy and of the heretics and schismatics, whose names we have scarcelypreserved, have taught or compiled, we acknowledge is to be not merelyrejected but eliminated from the whole Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church and withtheir authors and the followers of its authors to be damned in the inextricable shackles of anathemaforever.
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Questions about God, the Bible and the Christian culture
Question: What is the Gospel of Bartholomew? Can it be trusted?
Answer: Greetings friend. I shall be happy to respond to your question about the Gospel of Bartholomew since such a query cannot help but touch upon the veracity of the NT (New Testament), a foundational concept in the Christian faith. The Bible is clear about Scripture — that it is a unique out-breathing of God. Therefore, every Christian must train in discernment. We can all become better at hearing God’s voice in the din.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)
The Gospel of Bartholomew is both a lost and an apocryphal gospel. We refer to it as lost because the early church father Jerome (347-420 AD) referenced it. Yet, and even among the large number of less-than-biblical documents that are available from that time, scholars have never found that particular title. What we do have are two documents that are ascribed to Bartholomew: The Questions of Bartholomew and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many scholars believe that Jerome might have been referencing one or a combination of these, but we cannot be sure. Some believe that Questions is the actual text that Jerome referred to, and that Resurrection may be the broader work, like an actual gospel, which may or may not include Questions. The outfall is that you will find several published works that are promoted as the Gospel of Bartholomew as if that work did indeed exist as advertised. This is unfortunate. We cannot link any of those works to that title with requisite certainty. So, even though this work is technically “lost,” it is broadly available in varying forms. This here-and-not-here aspect of this work is in itself a warning.
The Gospel of Bartholomew belongs to a category of literature known as the apocryphal gospels. They take the title gospel because they are collections of stories about Jesus Christ, either his activities or his sayings, and they are apocryphal because they are not found in the NT. These works are (roughly) from the biblical period, and they purport to teach about biblical people, places and things—but from outside of canon. The word apocrypha means 'things put away' or 'things hidden.' Today we understand the Apochrapha to be a collection of works that were considered by the church as useful, but which were not divinely inspired. So, can these types of gospels be trusted? Maybe and never. Maybe for cultural context, but never as equal with or contributory to Scripture.
Most importantly, you should not consider the Gospel of Bartholomew to be inspired by God. This means that you should give it no credence as it relates to the Christian faith and its doctrines. The work might have some value as representing the culture of the biblical period, but we cannot trust that what it teaches about God, Jesus, Mary, or any other biblical character is true — and especially if it contradicts the Bible. Does this mean that every statement in this work is necessarily false? No. An apocryphal passage may occasionally align with Scripture, but if it does, then that portion of the Apocrypha is coincidently true and not essentially true as with the Bible. God protects his written word, the sixty-six books of the Bible. No other words, even if they are true, have his personal sanction.
“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21, ESV)
One question remains. How do we know that the Bible Book Selection Committee (a made-up name to save us from a lengthy and complex history on the collection of canonical documents) did not include a wrong book in the canon, or more to our point, did not exclude a “worthy” work like the Gospel of Bartholomew? After all, people were involved — and we know about people. Isn’t it possible that some of them will have advanced their particular view of Jesus Christ by manipulating the canon?
People certainly were involved… but God always trumps people. God’s scholars were “choosing” from among two types of books: inspired writings (those directed and protected by God), and common writings (those not inspired by God, but written with a holy sounding vocabulary). In this scenario, the scholars did not choose the books. The books revealed themselves. In fact, we refer to God’s written word as his special revelation (which differs from his general revelation, which is what we can know of him by his created universe.) Humans have nothing to do with God’s revelation except to behold, appreciate and respond. From the perspective of those godly scholars, God’s books simply leaped out of the pile. The rest.. well.. they didn’t. Sorry, Bart.
Let me close by sharing the challenge that I offer to people who dismiss the Bible because it included or excluded certain materials. I challenge them to assemble their own bible out of all the reasonable manuscripts, but they must do so under the same constraints as did the original assemblers. Since the object of this test is to find and assemble all of God’s word and only God’s word, the assemblers must first learn to hear God’s voice.
Every author has a recognizable voice, and mature readers learn to hear it. Once a reader has become accustomed to an author’s voice, he can “hear” it in a piece, even when he does not know its authorship. God is the author of the Bible, and he too has a recognizable voice. Since he used common language tools to write his Bible, anyone can learn to hear it. The earnest seeker must read the Bible…and read it again… and read it again… until he can differentiate God’s voice from a godly sounding voice, as can be found in those non-canonical works. I’m not saying that this is easy. It’s not! But such is the price of legitimate biblical scholarship. I can only ascribe arrogance to a person who advances the aforementioned argument without putting in this effort.
After (and only after) a reader has learned to hear God’s voice, then he may read all the other documents that might have been included in the Bible. When he does, he will not hear God in any one of them, and that was the position of the scholars who assembled the Scripture. They had another advantage, of course. They were believers, born-again children of God. So, in addition to being academically prepared, they also enjoyed the indwelling Holy Spirit — no small help in these matters! And because they were members of God’s family, they understood the family idiom. However, the challenge remains for the skeptic. I challenge them to do their due diligence before accusing great men of grievous error. But what of the highly credentialed skeptics? Aren’t they legitimate critics?
In a way, they are, but not every credentialed scholar is in tune with God’s voice, and many of them do not even enter their studies with an open mind. (See the movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, by Ben Stein) They begin their queries with prejudice that God cannot exist, and that really dampens their ability to hear his voice! What is the result of all this? Ready or not — publish! Scholars must publish to advance in their field, and the media loves to spotlight their many “experts” who promote the most spurious documents while dismissing the Bible out of hand.
The Gospel Of Bartholomew
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:19, ESV)
The Gospel Of Bartholomew Pdf
The best way to handle any extra-biblical documents is to trust God’s word and let the other documents fall where they may. The Bible is an anvil. It has worn out countless critical hammers. Interestingly, the word Bible merely means book. But even the godless know it to be The Book — and we Christians should understand it to be the only book in authority over our faith and practice. No additions need apply.
Gospel According To Bartholomew
(For comments, or to join the Monday Musings mailing list, contact us at mainsailep@gmail.com. To submit a question about God, the Bible or the Christian culture, click here.)